Esk

Meanings

1. A locality in the Clarence Valley council area and the Richmond Valley council area, north eastern New South Wales, Australia.
2. A river in North Yorkshire, England that flows through Eskdale to Whitby.
3. A river in Cumbria, England, which also flows through Eskdale, and into the Irish Sea.
4. A river in Dumfries and Galloway council area, Scotland, which crosses the border into Cumbria, England, before flowing into Solway Firth.
5. A river mostly in East Lothian council area, Scotland, its branches North Esk and South Esk are in Midlothian.

Etymology

Possibly derived from Proto-Brythonic *Uɨsk, a river name perhaps originally meaning "abundant in fish". Cognate to the river names Axe, Exe, and Usk. Another possibility, suggested for the North and South Esk, is derivation from a Brythonic/Celtic word for water; compare Scottish Gaelic uisge (“water, river”).